Abstract P1-15-02: An educational cancer genetics course to increase knowledge on hereditary breast cancer syndromes among physicians-in-training at a teaching hospital in Mexico City

Abstract

Abstract Background: Breast cancer incidence is increasing globally, and a significant proportion of the disease has been linked to genetic susceptibility. Genetic knowledge and skills are essential for achieving optimal cancer care and prevention. However, in low- and middle-income countries the availability of physicians and other providers specializing in cancer genetics is very limited, and cancer genetics is not included in most undergraduate or graduate medical programs. Providing physicians-in-training with education on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndromes has the potential to improve the early identification of patients at a higher risk of breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the effect of a short HBOC course given to fellows from a single teaching hospital in Mexico City. Methods: We evaluated the basal practice patterns and knowledge on HBOC among fellows enrolled in internal medicine, general surgery, medical oncology and clinical genetics fellowship programs using a validated cancer genetics questionnaire composed of 13 questions and graded on a 0-100% scale. Fellows received a cancer genetics course (three lectures) from oncologists and geneticists with training in cancer genetics, and changes in knowledge post-course were evaluated using the same questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe the included subjects, and T-tests were used to compare pre and post questionnaire scores. Results: 110 fellows with a median age of 26.9 years (range 24-31) completed the basal questionnaire. 48.9% were enrolled in internal medicine, 21.8% in general surgery, 13.6% in medical oncology and 7.2% in clinical genetics. All respondents reported to routinely interrogate patients about their family history of cancer, and 70% said they had referred patients to the genetics clinic at their institution. The average score on the basal survey was 62% (SD 17). After the cancer genetics course was completed, 85 fellows answered the questionnaire. We found a relative increase in knowledge from pre to post-intervention of 12% (post-intervention average score 70% [SD 14]), which was statistically significant (p <0.01). After the course, 36% of fellows said they would feel capable to provide recommendations to patients at risk of HBOC, compared to 17% before the course (p <0.01). Conclusions: Although knowledge about HBOC among Mexican fellows is suboptimal, we found that providing short educational courses on cancer genetics may lead to a significant increase in knowledge on HBOC, as well as to an increase in confidence regarding recommendations. This study reinforces the need to develop focused and cost-effective educational strategies in low- and middle-income countries where specialists in cancer genetics are scarce, in order to provide physicians-in-training with knowledge and tools to recognize, refer, and counsel patients at risk of HBOC. Citation Format: Yanin Chavarri Guerra, Hector De la Mora Molina, Rosa Elena Caballero Landinez, Arantxa Lagunas Salazar, Andrea De la O Murillo, Rafael Reyes Arciniega, Enrique Soto Perez de Celis, Jose Luis Rodriguez Olivares, Osvaldo M Mutchinick, Jazmin Arteaga Vazquez. An educational cancer genetics course to increase knowledge on hereditary breast cancer syndromes among physicians-in-training at a teaching hospital in Mexico City [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-15-02.